Bobalu Berries has hired Anthony Gallino as its first vice president of sales in the 61-year history of the company.
This step is the first of many to come as Bobalu is now well positioned as a grower, shipper, processer of fresh berries, according to a press release. The company has primarily been known since the 1950s as a premium grower headquartered in Oxnard, CA. It has methodically stayed focused on maintaining a strong family connection and to become a fully integrated company.
Brothers Bobby and RC Jones, third-generation strawberry farmers, have many associates within the organization who themselves are third-generation members of the extended Jones family. Together, this management team has over 250 collective years of strawberry growing and packing experience and together stand behind the “Family Grown, Farmer Owned” slogan.
Bobby Jones, RC Jones and Anthony Gallino of Bobalu Berries. Gallino recently joined the Oxnard, CA-based company as vice president of sales.The addition of Gallino stays true to its mission of capturing the experience, the reputation and commitment to the brand.
Gallino has worked with the Jones operation previously and has maintained a strong bond with the family for many years. The transition to this new position was seamless as he now steps into the role of building the Bobalu Berries brand with trading partners on behalf of the Jones family.
The Jones brothers have spent the last few years taking steps to expand on the company and legacy their grandfather, Bob Jones, built over the years.
“For the last two years, Western Veg Produce has sold our strawberries under our Bobalu and Short N Sweet brands,” said Bobby Jones. “The Western veg team has done a wonderful job and we are now partnering with David Ollivier, president of Western Veg Produce, to bring sales and marketing in-house and become a completely vertically integrated berry company.
“As a grower- based company, we are focused on only the best quality going into the box that carries our family name, and sharing our family grown and farmer owned story,” Jones continued. “Anthony’s experience will help us tell that story as he taps into his years of experience with customer loyalty and produce industry relationships. We have known him for many years and trust him with our mission and vision helping us to take the company to the next level.”
“I feel like I am coming home,” Gallino said. “My first day in the berry industry 25 years ago was spent in the Jones farming office in Oxnard, and Bob Jones was my first connection. How fitting to work today with his grandsons building the brand I have seen and known for years and I am really enjoying sharing in the enthusiasm and passion for what’s ahead.”
Gallino will work closely with David Ollivier, Bobby and RC Jones and also the rest of the Western Veg sales group in the coming weeks and months to manage the fresh berries being harvested throughout California and Mexico for the 2020 and expanding further in the 2021 season.
